Negative Numbers Elementary Math Topics Negative Numbers A

Negative Numbers Elementary Math Topics Negative Numbers: A Number Line Putting Negative Numbers in the Correct Order Adding and Subtracting Negative Numbers N Number © Math Topics 2018

Negative Numbers Negative numbers are numbers which are less than zero. Example 1: A Lift in a Building. Third Floor 3 Second Floor 2 First Floor 1 Ground Floor 0 One Floor Below Ground Level -1 Two Floors Below Ground Level -2 Three Floors Below Ground Level -3 We can label the GROUND FLOOR with the number 0 We can label the first floor with the number 1 We can label the second floor with the number 2 We can label the third floor with the number 3 For floors BELOW the ground floor we need NEGATIVE NUMBERS, as shown.

Negative Numbers Negative numbers are numbers which are less than zero. Example 2: A Thermometer. 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 Water freezes at 0˚C ˚C If the temperature goes below this, we need negative numbers

Negative Numbers: A Number Line We can show positive and negative numbers on a number line. Numbers get bigger Numbers get smaller -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Examples: -9 is SMALLER than -7 -7 is BIGGER than -9 -3 is SMALLER than 3 3 is BIGGER than -3 -6 is SMALLER than -5 -5 is BIGGER than -6 -10 is SMALLER than -8 -8 is BIGGER than -10 9 10

Putting Negative Numbers in the Correct Order A number line can help us to do this. Example 1: Put these numbers in order, smallest to largest. -6 -10 4 Draw a number line. -3 8 -1 Find the numbers on the number line. -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 -10 -7 -6 -3 -1 2 1 -7 Write them in order. 3 1 4 5 6 4 7 8 8 9 10

Putting Negative Numbers in the Correct Order A number line can help us to do this. Example 2: 4 Put these numbers in order, smallest to largest. -5 -10 9 Draw a number line. -7 2 -2 -9 Find the numbers on the number line. -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 -10 -9 -7 -5 -2 2 Write them in order. 3 2 4 5 6 4 7 8 9 9 10

Putting Negative Numbers in the Correct Order A number line can help us to do this. Example 3: -9 7 Draw a number line. Put these numbers in order, smallest to largest. -5 -1 9 -8 Find the numbers on the number line. -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 -9 -8 -5 -3 -1 2 0 -3 Write them in order. 3 0 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 9 10